Sure, it happens to be the day the presidential election falls on, which could unseat an incumbent president or give America four more years of the first African American president. But there’s one more very important thing happening on Nov. 6 that should be brought to everyone’s attention: it is my 20th birthday.

I’ve made a wish list of gifts for my parents — mostly just money, considering the insurmountable debt I’ve accumulated — that I hope I receive as presents that day. But one present would be better than money, a new iPhone or a gift card.

The best present I could receive on my birthday would be knowing students played a pivotal role in the presidential election.

And, in order for that to happen, it really is important that every Spartan takes a moment to cast a ballot on Nov. 6.

Just like every student on this campus and in the United States, I’m sick of seeing political propaganda on every street corner and vicious advertisements whenever I watch TV. I’m tired of having every political pundit tell me why one candidate is better than the other or analyze every single blink a candidate takes during a presidential debate.

Although I hate agreeing with the pundits who annoy me so, this really is an important election. I have heard so many politicians and professors say there is a lot at stake in this election, and I agree with them. Both candidates have very distinct plans for where they want to take this country during the next four years. And, whether we like it or not, as students, their actions could directly affect us.

I am not going to tell students who to vote for because I know they are smart enough to figure out which candidate best represents their views.

And regardless of which side of the political aisle any student falls on, it is imperative that he or she voices his or her opinion by casting a vote this November.

I know it seems like, in the grand scheme of things, one vote will not matter. I used to think that myself. But Sen. Carl Levin helped put the power a single vote can have into perspective when he came to visit The State News Editorial Board on Wednesday.

He told us a story of when he had just graduated law school. He was a young lawyer whose assignment was to help older people get to the polls on election day. He said he spent four hours driving a retired veteran back and forth to his precinct just so the older gentlemen had the chance to be involved in the democratic process.

Later that night, while watching election coverage, he found that the precinct he had taken that veteran to decided on a candidate by only one vote.

And not just that precinct, but many others throughout Michigan.

“It was my veteran’s vote,” Levin said, smiling. “That’s what made the difference. One single vote.”

A lot of times, we as Americans take for granted the right to hold fair elections and elect the representatives who will serve our country or our cities in government. It is true that many other countries in the world offer this opportunity to their citizens, but there also are many others who suppress and deny their citizens the right to vote.

So there are few things I consider more patriotic than casting a vote.

According to research conducted at the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or CIRCLE, at Tufts University’s Tisch College, 48.5 percent of citizens ages 18-24 voted in the 2008 election.

Although this is one of the highest voter turnouts ever recorded for this age group, I think students can participate at an even higher rate this election.

Sure, the same talk show pundits say people are not as excited about this election, but I know students can prove them wrong and play a pivotal role in this election, just as they did in 2008.

So if a Spartan is registered to vote, there is no excuse not to do so this Nov. 6. The actions of these candidates could directly affect our futures, so we as students should be involved in making sure we voice our opinion of who we think can do a better job.

And, if for no other reason, at least vote as a birthday present to me.

Alex McClung is the State News opinion writer and an international relations and journalism sophomore. Reach him at mcclung3@msu.edu.